The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-11-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
rom our Regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON. D. c., Nov. 8, 1887.
Among the prominent Democratic
members of the House who have ar
rived at the capital, may mention the
Hon. r. p. Band. of Missouri, who is
often referred to as "Silver Bland" on
account of the leading part taken by
him in tho legislation that authorized
the coinage of the "dollar of our dad
dies and also because he is on all
occasions the steadfast friend and
champion of silver. Mr.. Bland gives
his views as to the probable course OF
legislation in the Fiftieth Congress.
He thinks compromise tariff bill will
pass, and that it will include the re-
peal of the tobacco tax he believes
that the tariff should be reduced $780,
100000 the free list should be largely
increased and there should be a re-
duction of duties on other imports.
He thinks there will be no financial
legislation except in so far as tariff
legislation affects the finances.
The question of changing the time
of the meeting of Congress, is again,
as we'll as the terms of the members,
being agitated, and there are number
less advocates in the affirmative, while
on the other hand, the dissentients can
be counted on ones fingers. l have
yet to see convincing reason why
Congress should meet, as it does at
present, thirteen months after the
election of its members, but Cd the
contrary, there are many grave objec-
tions to the system now In vogue,
among which l may mention that Con-
gressmen should come fresh from the
people that their successors should
not be elected until the iDcumbents
serve out their first term; that the
present custom is antagonistic to the
progressive spirit of the age. Congress
now meets on the first Monday in De.
cember, and before that body gets
fairly to work, an adjournment for
the holidays is in order. Why should
not congressman, like most other
elective officials, begin their duties on
the first of the year and be paid per-
annum.
The theory of States right has GER
tainly received substantial encourage
ment from the decision of the United
States Supreme Court in the Chicago
Anarchist case, and / doubt not, if
such thing be possible, that the spirit
of the great Calhoun hovered jubilant-
ly over the historical and eventful
scene that in measure vindicated the
constitutionality of his distinctive
doctrine of the reserved rights of the
States in the Federal compact. But,
however that may be-, l believe the
verdict, on its merits, is generally ap-
plauded as just and righteous.
A young newspaper correspondent
of this city took advantage of the oc
casion to send a sham "infernal ma
chine" to Chief Justice Matchmaking
the impression that it was scheme of
the friends of the Anarchists, for re-
venge on the Court. The reckless
youth made sensation in the Capital,
but the sequel was his confinement in
the gloomy cell of the police station
until bailed out.
Earlier iu the past week, Washing
ton had another sensation in the shape
of cholera scare, caused by two
Italian suspects from New York, who,
together with their effects, were given
a fumigation and permitted to depart.
If any more ships supposed to be in
fected nth cholera arrive in New
York harbor, the Government will un-
tremendously order them back from
whence they came.
A Treasury clerk has caused no
little perturbation in that department
by inventing a new counting machine,
which if it works as successfully as the
experiment promises, will do the work
of six persons better than they can do
it. And that is what carries sorrow
to the souls of the charming 'icount-
esses", a large number of whom are
operating the old machine at com
pensation of from Sl.50 to ~ per day.
Nor will the enterprislng inventor be
benefited pecuniarily, as he invented
the machine while in Government ser
vice. So he gets not cent for his in
genuity.
The air is full of rumors of coming
Cabinet changes-whether unfounded
or not your correspondent is unable to
ssy-to the effect that upon the trans.
fer of Secretary Lamar to the Supreme
Beuch, Postmaster General Villas will
occupy the vacancy, while the Wis,
eonsin statesman will be succeeded by
Don III. picki psou, of Michigan. On
the other hand, it is said to be the
Presidents purpose TO appoint prom
inent Union General as Mr.. Lamar's
successor, and if this be true, 1 believe
his choice will fall upon Gen. John c..
Black, Commissioner of Pensions.